EBBSFLEET 0 GATESHEAD 1 Heed take the three points – as Fleet sunk
GATESHEAD moved up to eighth in the Vanarama National League table following yesterday’s single goal win at Ebbsfleet United.
It was an impressive away performance from Steve Watson’s men as Ebbsfleet slipped to a fourth home defeat.
An own goal from former Heed man Chris Bush proved to be the difference between the two sides.
The Heed handed a debut to on loan Sunderland striker Luke Molyneux, but were without four players, including top scorer Luke Armstrong.
Molyneux almost had an assist in the fifth minute, Steven Rigg’s heavy touch bringing a risky challenge from Sam Magri that was deemed legal.
Gateshead had travelled down to Kent on the day, a near 300mile seven-hour journey, but started positevely in a bright opening to the game.
Both sides entered the game level on points in mid-table but the Heed were ahead after 13 minutes.
Robbie Tinkler’s ball from halfway to Scott Boden saw the midfielder’s first-time pass release Tom White into the right side of the penalty area. His angled shot was blocked by Fleet keeper Nathan Ashmore only for the ball to ricochet off the blameless Bush and into the empty net. Boden’s shot from Rigg’s pass was blocked inside the box, before Tinkler flashed a ball across the face of goal untouched. Gateshead were well organised off the ball, maintaining their shape well to keep Ebbsfleet at arms length. The Fleet created very little in the opening half-hour, Darren McQueen putting a scissors-kick just over the bar following a corner. Other than that Gateshead were comfortable without creating too much at the other end, though Rigg had a half-chance from Tinkler’s through ball. Heed keeper Aynsley Pears was called into action in the first minute of the second half. Corey Whiteley put a free-kick, given away by Olley, over the bar, Rigg flicking a Molyneux cross wide of the near post. A stretching Danny K e d w e l l was just unable to turn Lawrie Wilson’s low cross into the net from close in as Ebbsfleet searched for an equaliser.
Boden got lucky with another ricochet but bent his angled shot from the left side of the box wide of the far post.
Ebbsfleet were dominating possession but struggling to turn that into clear-cut chances as the Heed held firm.
Ebbsfleet beefed up their attack nine minutes from time with the introduction of striker Michael Cheek.
Michael Rance put a shot over the bar injury time, but there was no denying a battling Gateshead all three points.
“It was a long second half the way we used the ball and we found ourselves on the back foot,” said Gateshead boss Steve Watson afterwards.
“We looked like a team that just wanted to hang on, but when our backs were against the wall we defended heroically.
“The mentality today was really strong and everyone played their part, and there’s loads of different ways to win football matches.”